And Invites Him to Participate in the International Day of Diplomats

As part of strengthening cooperation and fostering openness between cultural and Religious institutions, as well as promoting the values of dialogue and mutual understanding among the various components of society, a delegation from the Eastern Club for Civilizations Dialogue visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the Council’s headquarters in Hamra_ Beirut. The delegation was headed by the Club’s President, Dr. Elie Al-Sarghani, and the Journalist Lea Maamary, Member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Club, together with Members of the Board of Trustees: Mr. Eddy Makhoul, Mrs. Aimée Bou Lahoud, and Mrs. Amal Adel.

At the outset of the meeting, the Secretary General welcomed the delegation, commending the initiatives undertaken by the Eastern Club for Civilizations Dialogue and its role in promoting a culture of dialogue and openness. He praised the Club’s efforts to bring together diverse communities around shared values that foster social peace and constructive cooperation. Professor Abs also expressed his appreciation for the kind invitation, wishing the Club continued success in achieving its cultural and humanitarian objectives.

“Momentum”

27-7-2026

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is entitled in this issue "The Social, Economic, Educational, and Humanitarian Responsibility of the Church In Preserving Values and Virtues and Building the Human Person (Part 1)".

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/6d9d862163d5/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link:
https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

In Preserving Values and Virtues and Building the Human Person

(Part 1)

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

The Church: A Mission of Presence, Not Merely an Institution

When we speak about the Church, we are not speaking about a building made of stone, nor about an institution whose mission is limited to rituals and religious ceremonies. We are speaking about the presence of God at work in history, and about the community of believers called to be the “living Body of Christ” in the world.

From her very beginnings, the Church has never separated the proclamation of the Gospel from the service of humanity, because Christ Himself did not only preach the Kingdom of God, but also drew near to people in their weakness, suffering, and needs. He united word and action, teaching and mercy, spiritual calling and practical service for the healing of humanity.

When Jesus Christ sent His disciples, He instructed them to proclaim the Gospel, but He also commanded them to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and free those who suffered. This means that the mission of the Church is not a spiritual mission detached from human reality; rather, it is a comprehensive mission that embraces the human person in all dimensions: spiritual, social, economic, cultural, and humanitarian.

True faith is not revealed only in the words we proclaim, but in the life we live. As the Apostle James says: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Christian love is not merely an emotion or a beautiful idea; it is an action that draws near to the human person, carries his or her wounds, defends dignity, and seeks to build a society that is more just and compassionate.

From this perspective emerge the four responsibilities of the Church: social, economic, educational, and humanitarian. At their core, they are one responsibility: to serve the human person created by God in His image and likeness, and to preserve the values and virtues that make life more humane and closer to God’s will…

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Participates Along with a Delegation from the Council

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, participated in the Divine Liturgy presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Polis III Nona, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the World, at St. Raphael Cathedral in Baabda_Brasilia.

A delegation from the Council also took part in the Liturgy, including Chorbishop Habib Mrad, Member of the MECC Executive Committee, Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at MECC, Lawyer Ibrahim Traboulsi, Member of the MECC Executive Committee, and Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations at MECC.

A Lecture By Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian is the President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, delivered this lecture at a webinar organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, entitled “Freedom of Conscience and Responsible Faith,” on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

I thank the Middle East Council of Churches for this meaningful opportunity and pray that its media ministry be enriching for the life of the church in our region and also globally.

Why Freedom of Conscience Matters Today

On the occasion of the 180th anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East has chosen the central theme of "Freedom of Conscience and Responsible Faith."

The theme has been part of the story of the founding of our church in 1846, but is much more than a historical reminder. It is a theological confession, a description of the Church's identity, and a challenge for its future.

The Armenian Evangelical Church did not emerge in 1846 merely because forty believers in Constantinople wished to establish another ecclesiastical body. Their main concern was a deep understanding of the Gospel itself. They longed for a Church in which faith would be personal not only inherited, that it would be strongly biblical and freely sincere. In a foundational statement, they declared that freedom of conscience was more precious than social obedience and institutional authority, because only a conscience in service of Christ can genuinely worship God…

MECC Holds a Webinar on “Freedom of Conscience and Responsible Faith”

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian: “Responsible faith reminds us that freedom reaches its highest expression not in defending ourselves but in serving others”

Secretary General Professor Michel Abs: “Communication is an essential issue within the framework of freedom of conscience”

On the occasion of the 180th Anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a webinar entitled “Freedom of Conscience and Responsible Faith.” The main speaker was Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family.

The webinar was moderated by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Professor Michel Abs, with in-person participation from MECC colleagues, including Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and Coordinator of Media and Church Relations Journalist Lea Adel Maamary. In addition to an online participation from those interested in the topic from various Church families and countries around the world. It took place on Wednesday, July 23, 2026.